Chicago
is... a personal growth, body-mind-spirit fitness program. the best kept secret... energy follows attention and intention. It is a "living system" that works with the natural wisdom and intelligence of the body, mind, spirit, and emotions. Nia supports the Pleasure Principle: If it feels good keep doing it, if it hurts, stop! The blueprint of Nia is practical, experiential, and focuses on internal guidance to change and develop awareness. Process-oriented, the Nia format is user-friendly. Nia empowers and allows students and teachers to make their own movement choices by offering students a flexible structure they can personalize, create and modify to suit their needs. What makes Nia so innovative is its unlimited adaptability. Not only can people of all kinds participate, but a wide range of therapeutic, wellness, self-growth and educational models can effectively integrate Nia.
unique... in its body-mind approach, which incorporates East-West philosophy… visual and sensory language… interactive and internally directed teaching style… adaptability to a variety of health models… versatile choreography… holistic application… eclectic and healing use of music and sound… practical integration of movement forms and body integration therapies… expressive and emotional interpretation of movement… ability to take complex, esoteric concepts and translate them into user friendly tools… intelligent approach that respects the whole being.
3 arts & 9 energies... nia combines a diverse blend of Eastern and Western movements, concepts and philosophies from the worlds of the healing arts (love), martial arts (mindfulness), and dance arts(technique). Nia reaches people emotionally, in their hearts, motivating them to get fit and healthy by creating a deep personal desire to explore their potential and love their growth. Fitness, health, mindfulness, and self-love naturally result from the Nia experience. The 3 arts lend Nia the 9 energies that are integrated from these 9 classic movement forms. The blend of sensation, style or movement creates a very powerful experience.
3 stages of practice... learn the move, move the move, energize the move.
5 sensations... strength, flexibility, mobility, agility, stability.
7 cycles... set your intent, step in, warm up, get moving, cool down, floorplay, step out.
52 moves... Nia movement is based on the design and function of the body, what we call, "The Body's Way." With 52 basic moves, Nia movement is multi-dynamic and multi-directional. Drawn from the 3 arts and 9 energies. Nia involves a variety of steps, kicks, stances, movement speeds and styles, ranges of motion, and energy dynamics. The bio-chemistry of the joint and muscle action is triggered by imagination and by expressing emotion. Movements work with and against gravity and are perceived by the body as sensation derived from the action of: abduction, adduction, flexion, extension, eversion, inversion, dorsal flexion, plantar flexion, pronation, supination, horizontal flexion, horizontal extension, rotation inward, outward, upward, and downward, elevation, depression, and circumduction. Nia utilizes a multidimensional variety of combinations of patterns, as well as freestyle movement, designed to train the body, mind, emotions, and spirit to stimulate creativity and break movement habits.
What is Nia?
1. Martial Arts
T'ai Chi
Tae Kwon Do
Aikido
2. Dance Arts
Jazz Dance
Modern Dance
Duncan Dance
3. Healing Arts
Yoga
The teachings of:
Moshe Feldenkrais
Alexander Technique
